Qingdai arrived beside the rockery and, without avoiding Qi Shujin, raised her hand to release a force onto the door of the passage, activating the tunnel destruction mechanism. Immediately, a dull rumbling sound surged through the passage.
Qi Shujin’s eyes narrowed. Today had truly been an extraordinary day for him.
The collapse of the passage was skillfully executed—it had been personally designed by Murong Chao. When the passage was opened, the soil was compacted to both sides; now, it was simply restored to its original state, without affecting the structures above ground.
Chen Qingyang, who had returned to the study from the passage, was preoccupied with his thoughts and had left the passage door open. Along with the dull sound, a cloud of dust rushed toward him.
Covered in dust, he stared in shock at the destroyed passage, his heart sinking. She truly intended to sever ties with him.
“Master, the imperial edict has arrived,” a servant’s voice came from outside.
Chen Qingyang was taken aback. He had just requested an Imperial Marriage Edict from the palace—how could there be another edict? Could it be the edict appointing the Crown Prince? He couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.
Without further thought, he immediately closed the hidden door. Now that the passage was destroyed, the hidden door was useless. Once closed, it would never be opened again.
As long as he secured the Crown Prince position, Chaochao would no longer be of much use to him.
He raised his hand, using his Spiritual Power to brush off the dust from his body, and eagerly opened the study door to go to the front courtyard to receive the edict.
A moment later, Chen Qingyang returned to the study with a dark expression, holding the edict.
Something was amiss—it wasn’t what he had expected. He had thought it would be the edict appointing him as Crown Prince, but instead, it set his wedding date.
He had just requested the Imperial Marriage Edict, and now his father had set the wedding date—and so urgently, at the end of this month.
Which prince would marry in such haste? Even the least favored princes needed at least half a year to prepare from engagement to wedding.
How could he, a prince with illustrious military achievements, exceptional talent, and the title of War God, be forced into such a rushed marriage?
Not only that, but his father had also taken back the Military Seal and stripped him of his military authority, citing his three years of hard work and the need for rest.
This reminded him of Chaochao’s earlier words: Would the emperor be foolish enough to unite the Protector-General’s Estate, which held two major military powers, with the third prince? Was he trying to destabilize his own throne?
Only now did Chen Qingyang fully realize that he had made a grave mistake.
Upon returning from the border, Chaochao had urged him not to act rashly and to keep a low profile. She had assured him that everything was arranged to ensure he would become Crown Prince before the Continental Resource Championship.
He had been overconfident.
Chaochao’s mind was truly extraordinary, foreseeing events with uncanny accuracy.
Originally, he had planned to first have his father issue the marriage edict, then scheme against the most competitive eldest prince. Using his ability to secure a higher ranking in the championship as leverage, he would seize the Crown Prince position. If that failed, he could surrender the Military Seal—either way, he would secure the Crown Prince position. After participating in the Continental Championship, he could return just in time for the wedding and then head to the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land to search for resources. This year would have been a streak of good fortune for him, with one favorable event after another.
But now, with such a rushed marriage, the Crown Prince position remained out of reach, and he had lost his military authority. What was once a favorable situation had completely reversed.
Thinking of Chaochao’s attitude today, Chen Qingyang felt that things were slipping out of his control.
After a long while, he snapped his fingers, and a shadow guard appeared in the study.
“Send someone to guard Chaochao’s courtyard. If she tries to leave, restrain her immediately.”
“Yes.”
The shadow guard left, and Chen Qingyang furrowed his brows, pondering that since Chaochao wanted to sever ties with him, she would inevitably leave.
He couldn’t bear to kill her. He would go again tomorrow—she must have some way to handle it. He hoped she would be sensible and not force him to resort to harsh measures.
In the distant Chiyue Kingdom, Empress Murong Yue put away the Communication Stone, dispelled the Barrier, and glanced down at the ministers below, each with their own hidden agendas. In high spirits, she continued watching their faces as they argued back and forth, fighting for the interests of their respective masters.
From time to time, she chimed in to bolster the losing side, making the drama even more thrilling and satisfying to watch.
Otherwise, how boring would it be to sit on the throne!
Sixteen years were enough to see where the hearts of these court officials truly lay.
But the ministers below felt uneasy. Who had Her Majesty just communicated with after setting up the Barrier? And what was it about?
Murong Yue curled her lips slightly. “In nine days, it will be Chaochao’s Coming-of-age Ceremony. Chiyue hasn’t had a joyous occasion in a long time. Let the entire kingdom celebrate for three days. Chu Xiang will be in charge of this matter.”
Sixteen years—enough time for all the demons and monsters lurking in the shadows to come out. I’ll give you a chance to dance openly in the light.
All those who could attend the private discussions in the imperial study after court were high-ranking ministers, and everyone was stunned, each feeling a mix of emotions.
The Crown Princess had only been seen once, on the day of her birth, when the Imperial Consort held her for them to see. Sixteen years had passed, and no one had seen her since.
Now, the Emperor suddenly announced a grand Coming-of-age Ceremony and a three-day nationwide celebration. Could it be that the Crown Princess was returning?
But no one dared to ask. The Crown Princess was the Emperor and the Imperial Consort’s greatest taboo—they wouldn’t dare speak carelessly.
Murong Yue swept her gaze over them and stood up. “That’s all for today. You may leave.”
The ministers had grown accustomed to Murong Yue’s willful ways.
Watching Murong Yue’s retreating figure, the ministers exchanged glances, each lost in their own thoughts, before dispersing.
Murong Yue’s younger sister by the same mother, Prince Ning Murong Qiao, felt her heart sink. She hurried back to her princely residence.
Upon returning, she went straight to the courtyard of her daughter, Princess Anhe Murong Su.
“Murong Yue just issued an order. In nine days, Murong Chao’s Coming-of-age Ceremony will be celebrated nationwide for three days,” Murong Qiao said, looking at her most accomplished daughter.
Murong Su replied calmly, “Mother, don’t worry. Murong Chao won’t be able to return.”
“Are you sure?” Murong Qiao was somewhat skeptical. She knew her elder sister well—Murong Yue wouldn’t announce something unless she was certain.
“Absolutely. The Emperor will definitely receive the news today,” Murong Su said with confidence. She had no doubt about her own methods—she had every reason to be assured.
Seeing her daughter so certain, Murong Qiao still felt a bit uneasy, but when she thought of her daughter’s skills over the years, she decided her worries were unnecessary. Changing the subject, she asked, “With the Continental Championship approaching, the position of Crown Princess cannot remain vacant. Are you confident?”
“Mother, don’t worry. I am determined to succeed,” Murong Su replied with clear arrogance.
Among all the girls of their generation in the Murong family, if she dared claim second place, no one would dare claim first. She had every reason to be confident.
The Crown Princess must be her, and the future Empress of Chiyue must be her as well. As for that nonsense ancestral rule—she didn’t believe in it at all.
My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens. Murong Su’s destiny would definitely be controlled by herself.
Chu Xinlan had just returned to her temporary residence when she received another message from Her Majesty the Empress, instructing her to take charge of the Crown Princess’s Coming-of-age Ceremony arrangements.
A three-day nationwide celebration? She took a deep breath, imagining what the court officials of the Scarlet Moon Dynasty must be like at this moment.
Chu Xinlan sighed and walked into the courtyard. Seeing her nephew Chu Xuanhe about to leave, she quickly stopped him.